About AnimalKind

AnimalKind’s mission is to end the unnecessary euthanasia of adoptable cats and dogs in North Carolina shelters.

Founded in 1998, AnimalKind grew out of a national need to address the overpopulation of adoptable cats and dogs in shelters. Over one million sheltered animals are euthanized in the U.S. annually, just to make room for more- over 71,000 of those occurred in NC in 2018.

Prevention is the only way to stop the deadly cycle of pet overpopulation, and research indicates that the majority of pet overpopulation comes from low-income neighborhoods where pet spay/neuter is neither affordable nor accessible. Successful models around the country have demonstrated that a cost-effective way to end the euthanasia of adoptable cats and dogs is to provide financial assistance to the low-income pet owners-so they can spay/neuter their pets and prevent accidental pet litters.

AnimalKind considers targeted spay/neuter assistance to be the most critical element of a plan to end unnecessary shelter euthanasia. Rescue, adoption, and transport efforts can certainly be part of a successful plan for ending unnecessary shelter euthanasia, and can make significant short-term reductions in shelter intake and euthanasia. However, if adequately-funded targeted spay/neuter assistance is not also part of the strategy, the decreases in shelter intake and euthanasia will not be prolonged and permanent.

Programs

THE $20 FIX is AnimalKind’s original spay/neuter program. Since 2004, THE $20 FIX has fixed over 19,900 needy cats and dogs in NC; saving thousands (if not millions) of unwanted puppies and kittens from being born. The program currently helps low-income families that would otherwise not be able to fix their pets in the counties of Alamance and Orange.

Established in 2009, SpayNC Helpline is a free statewide referral service that helps struggling pet owners find reduced-cost pet spay and neuter options in their area. This spay/neuter resource database, is the most comprehensive in the state, and is utilized by other animal welfare organizations, as well as North Carolina’s Department of Agriculture.

Check out all of our programs by visiting the programs tab on our homepage, or clicking here.

AnimalKind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Raleigh, NC. Our mission is to end the unnecessary euthanasia of adoptable cats and dogs in North Carolina Shelters.

Our organization and programs grew out of a national need to address the overpopulation of adoptable cats and dogs in our shelters. Currently millions of sheltered animals are euthanized in the US on a yearly basis, just to make room for more, and thousands of those occur in North Carolina.